Executive Search and Career Transition

LinkedIn endorsements – why I’ve done an about turn

When LinkedIn rolled out their skill endorsement programme my immediate reaction was not positive. My inner voice said “Tacky, superficial, transactional. Tapping into the worst aspects of social media interaction and white noise, akin to Facebook “likes” and Twitter Follow Fridays. There was no way to quantify the scope or quality of any endorsement and it all seemed like a silly popularity contest. They are no substitute for a detailed and thought out Recommendation from a colleague or superior, who actually knows the work of the person involved and can genuinely reference that particular quality.

Downward trend?

It’s hard to know why LinkedIn followed this trend. I can only assume that advertising revenue is correlated to member engagement and page views. This is one way of generating inter-connectivity via the alerts which appear on your LinkedIn dashboard, in your updates and as an email.

The other is that apparently as many as 60% of profiles on LinkedIn are incomplete, making it difficult for recruiters to tap into profiles via keyword searches. By allocating keywords to each other, we very obligingly save the individual work and provide the LinkedIn algorithms with the necessary keyworded skills on his or her behalf. So this seems to be a way of improving results for recruiters, thus making LinkedIn more attractive and by extension enhancing their revenue stream.

Downsides

The danger is that we can endorse skills provided conveniently in the pop up window which may not be skills that the person actually has. I am regularly endorsed for very peripheral skills and even activities in which I don’t specialise. I can only assume that someone has clicked the yellow endorse button, which covers all skills, rather than deleting the spurious skill which I don’t have.

However, despite this, I do confess to being something of a convert. I have not done a complete 360°, but certainly a bit of an about turn. Definitely a 180°!

Here’s why.

Although not as strong as a recommendation, a LinkedIn endorsement is a way for a person to acknowledge a small courtesy or service. I have received endorsements from individuals whose path I have crossed years ago, perhaps in some minor way. It’s a way of saying thank you and showing appreciation.

It can be a form of networking and staying in touch. It’s a quick and easy way to let someone know you have been on their radar with a bonus of public recognition, rather than just an email. It’s a way of leaving a digital footprint in your network while eliminating the nuisance factor.

It can be a way of acknowledging skills the individuals themselves don’t recognise or perhaps they don’t even understand they have. It is really useful for introverts to have that done for them, or those starting out on the online profile path. I’ve just endorsed the deserving members of my MBA Career Management workshop for leadership, team playing and engagement. All important factors in contributing to the success of my sessions.

We can manage our endorsements – we have full control over which skills are endorsed and which endorsers are visible on our profiles. If specific skills are targeted or even if the preference is to have endorsements hidden, this is our choice. We can leave key influencers in our networks visible.

Endorsements provide feedback.

Endorsements provide an opportunity to strengthen relationships, not by automatic reciprocation but via the initiation of dialogue.

We don’t have to approve endorsements from people we don’t know.

We don’t have to reciprocate if the endorsement is not genuine.

So it seems provided that we all behave sensibly, genuinely and with integrity there is no reason why the endorsement system can’t provide some added value.

Great thoughts! I also think that the things that are most recommended can point to the things that the person is truly capable of. You can also cross reference the recommendations with other items on the LinkedIn profile: career history, education, written recommendations, etc.

I have also been careful with who I recommend and for what capability, it reflects on my character and judgement.

Hi Andrew – how are you? Hope all is well. I agree. We devalue our recommendation currency if we are indiscriminate. I also use the tool sparingly and appropriately. Worth it in the long run I think. Thanks for your comment.

Dorothy – your thought process mirrors mine – was initially uncertain of the value, now I can see a few benefits. The sticking point to me is that not everyone will use the common sense that is requisite in any social media interaction. So, we will still need to suffer the random “endorsement” in an area that doesn’t make any sense.

Great post – thanks for a thorough and thoughtful analysis of this “quick hit” social media feature.

Thanks for sharing your journey on this. I’ve come to feel it’s more useful to make the best we can of LinkedIn’s changes than to rail against them, and we do have the capacity to manage this one, as you make so clear.

Re-blogged Dorothy, I think it does make search for the right person easier, and then they can look through their recommendations to back up the statistical data from endorsements.

It amused me the other day, as we are allowed 50 skills, I chose the ones I thought were appropriate to me, and reflected what I’d like others to find me for, but I’m clearly simply not creative enough. I was endorsed for 81 skills by one person, now I know I’m skillful, but 81 …. there’s only Ross Dodwell with that many skills. 😉

“So it seems provided that we all behave sensibly, genuinely and with integrity there is no reason why the endorsement system can’t provide some added value.” Wise words: couldn’t say it any better. Cheers! Kaarina

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About Dorothy

Dorothy Dalton is a global talent management strategist. An Economist and CIPD Associate, certified coach and trainer, Dorothy has placed, trained and coached thousands of men and women in her career.

She works with leading international companies and organizations to identify, attract and coach top talent into high performing leadership roles.

Dorothy is a keynote speaker and a visiting career coach for the MBA and Executive MBA programs of top-tier business schools. She works internationally and has run events and has a reputation for leading energetic interactive workshops throughout Europe and in the Middle East.

She is a recognised HR Influencer, the author of well received eBooks on talent management, a keynote speaker and contributor to sector publications and mainstream media.

She is also CEO of 3Plus International.

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The best investment I ever made in myself!

Dorothy is one of the best investments I ever made in myself. Thanks to her guidance, I found a super job in a top company in record time while building my foundation for a healthy work/private-life balance. Dorothy’s methodology and approach proved to be exactly what I needed to achieve results in my job-search. If you are searching for someone to help you get to the next step in your professional life, or guide you to find the power to break through the glass ceiling, or if you are simply looking for someone or career coach to help you better understand yourself in order to be a happier and more effective at work: Dorothy is the one to go to“

Hanne Refslund Salesforce.com

2014-01-27T10:25:50+00:00

Hanne Refslund Salesforce.com

Dorothy is one of the best investments I ever made in myself. Thanks to her guidance, I found a super job in a top company in record time while building my foundation for a healthy work/private-life balance. Dorothy’s methodology and approach proved to be exactly what I needed to achieve results in my job-search. If you are searching for someone to help you get to the next step in your professional life, or guide you to find the power to break through the glass ceiling, or if you are simply looking for someone or career coach to help you better understand yourself in order to be a happier and more effective at work: Dorothy is the one to go to“

A great experience

I would say first and foremost Dorothy really helped me get to the essence of where I am today career wise, and helped narrow down the options for whats next in order to make a choice that worked best for me taking into account both personal and professional needs. It was a great experience working with Dorothy, aside from her knowledge, expertise and experience, I always felt she genuinely cared and was always authentic in how she showed up.

Nassim Ghrayeb, Innovator and Entrepreneur , Dubai/London

2014-01-27T10:26:58+00:00

Nassim Ghrayeb, Innovator and Entrepreneur , Dubai/London

I would say first and foremost Dorothy really helped me get to the essence of where I am today career wise, and helped narrow down the options for whats next in order to make a choice that worked best for me taking into account both personal and professional needs. It was a great experience working with Dorothy, aside from her knowledge, expertise and experience, I always felt she genuinely cared and was always authentic in how she showed up.

Chapeau!

“Dorothy is the ideal business partner. She goes straight to the point, picks up all the vibes and executes with creativity and speed. She is a pleasure to work with for a demanding customer. She will deliver quality, on time, every time. “Chapeau“!”

Anders Borg, President Hansar International. Former Chairman of the Association of Executive Search Consultants,Brussels

2014-01-27T10:27:30+00:00

Anders Borg, President Hansar International. Former Chairman of the Association of Executive Search Consultants,Brussels

“Dorothy is the ideal business partner. She goes straight to the point, picks up all the vibes and executes with creativity and speed. She is a pleasure to work with for a demanding customer. She will deliver quality, on time, every time. “Chapeau“!”

Simon Fletcher, Dubai

“I have known Dorothy for 5 years and regard her very highly as an exceptionally insightful coach and talent management strategist. Uniquely, Dorothy combines her work as an executive search specialist with career transition coaching; she is thus ideally placed to not only help organisations locate and recruit high potential, high performing executives, but help those executives in their on-boarding and transition to their new roles. Dorothy is additionally very well connected and has made several introductions to me of contacts of hers who have proven to be extremely helpful professionally. I am delighted to recommend Dorothy very highly and look forward to working further with her in the future.”

2014-01-27T10:28:03+00:00

“I have known Dorothy for 5 years and regard her very highly as an exceptionally insightful coach and talent management strategist. Uniquely, Dorothy combines her work as an executive search specialist with career transition coaching; she is thus ideally placed to not only help organisations locate and recruit high potential, high performing executives, but help those executives in their on-boarding and transition to their new roles. Dorothy is additionally very well connected and has made several introductions to me of contacts of hers who have proven to be extremely helpful professionally. I am delighted to recommend Dorothy very highly and look forward to working further with her in the future.”

https://dorothydalton.com/testimonials/simon-fletcher-dubai/

A great candidate experience

“Dorothy is exactly what you “wish” an International Talent Management Strategist should be: she has a deep and detailed knowledge of the subject, she is consistent and reliable, available and punctual at each step of the process and really a kind person, as well as a very talented professional. I appreciated very much her approach and style and I strongly recommend her …

Paola Rosa Legal Manager, Italy

2014-01-27T10:28:35+00:00

Paola Rosa Legal Manager, Italy

“Dorothy is exactly what you “wish” an International Talent Management Strategist should be: she has a deep and detailed knowledge of the subject, she is consistent and reliable, available and punctual at each step of the process and really a kind person, as well as a very talented professional. I appreciated very much her approach and style and I strongly recommend her …

I got the nudge I needed

“I was stuck on the edge of my comfort zone when Dorothy gave me a nudge over the top. I felt uncomfortable and pushed back angry, reluctant to accept responsibility for my self sabotaging tactics. When I railed she was calm and philosophical and told me this is where change takes place and one day I would learn to own my achievements. It took me a while- but I got there. She was right! A good career coach will occasionally make us feel uncomfortable”

Beatrice C, Brussels

2014-01-27T10:29:11+00:00

Beatrice C, Brussels

“I was stuck on the edge of my comfort zone when Dorothy gave me a nudge over the top. I felt uncomfortable and pushed back angry, reluctant to accept responsibility for my self sabotaging tactics. When I railed she was calm and philosophical and told me this is where change takes place and one day I would learn to own my achievements. It took me a while- but I got there. She was right! A good career coach will occasionally make us feel uncomfortable”

https://dorothydalton.com/testimonials/beatrice-c-brussels/

Demanding and professional

“Dorothy has deep and fast understanding of how her assignment has to be structured in order to be most effective with respect to specific company/employee’s needs. Her long experience and practical approach allow to achieve best possible results in short amount of time. She builds an immediate feeling of trust and confidence thanks to a perfect mix of demanding professional relationship with motivating, pleasant, understanding attitude.”

Luigi Rivetti, Executive VP , Paris

2014-01-27T10:29:43+00:00

Luigi Rivetti, Executive VP , Paris

“Dorothy has deep and fast understanding of how her assignment has to be structured in order to be most effective with respect to specific company/employee’s needs. Her long experience and practical approach allow to achieve best possible results in short amount of time. She builds an immediate feeling of trust and confidence thanks to a perfect mix of demanding professional relationship with motivating, pleasant, understanding attitude.”

Telling my friends

“Hi Dorothy – this is just to let you know that within a month of sending out my new CV which we worked on together, I landed a great job. My new employer said it is fantastic and what attracted them to me! THANK you for all your help and for introducing me to LinkedIn and 3Plus. I am telling all my friends!”

Imogen Woodward, London

2014-01-27T10:30:20+00:00

Imogen Woodward, London

“Hi Dorothy – this is just to let you know that within a month of sending out my new CV which we worked on together, I landed a great job. My new employer said it is fantastic and what attracted them to me! THANK you for all your help and for introducing me to LinkedIn and 3Plus. I am telling all my friends!”

Highly recommended

“Who do you go to when all you know is what you don’t want to do? Dorothy! With her career coaching, she helped me lose my negativity, rediscover my self belief, build my self-confidence and become energised. It all seemed so seamless. I had been stuck in what she calls “yes/but” for years, but taking small steps I found out where I wanted to go and to get out there and do it! She was supportive when I needed it and also demanding when she had to be. Highly recommended.”

Tracey P. Belgium

2014-01-27T10:30:51+00:00

Tracey P. Belgium

“Who do you go to when all you know is what you don’t want to do? Dorothy! With her career coaching, she helped me lose my negativity, rediscover my self belief, build my self-confidence and become energised. It all seemed so seamless. I had been stuck in what she calls “yes/but” for years, but taking small steps I found out where I wanted to go and to get out there and do it! She was supportive when I needed it and also demanding when she had to be. Highly recommended.”

https://dorothydalton.com/testimonials/tracey-p-brussels/

Tech-savvy professional

“Working with Dorothy was an absolute pleasure! She was able to provide great input into designing the career coaching plan I wanted for my MBA students. Dorothy is a very tech-savvy professional who used her in-depth knowledge of social media, career coaching, and corporate connections to provide excellent services for my program. I look forward to continued collaboration with Dorothy and highly recommend her to other clients.”

“Working with Dorothy was an absolute pleasure! She was able to provide great input into designing the career coaching plan I wanted for my MBA students. Dorothy is a very tech-savvy professional who used her in-depth knowledge of social media, career coaching, and corporate connections to provide excellent services for my program. I look forward to continued collaboration with Dorothy and highly recommend her to other clients.”